THE WALLACE GENETIC FOUNDATION, THE COLCOM FOUNDATION, AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYONE'S GUNS AWAY FROM THEM, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO GUNS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE RELIABLE, BUT TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE HANDS THAT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DANGEROUS.

I WAS THE MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS, AND I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE BORN, I WAS CERTAIN THAT I WOULD BE FIRED.

I REMEMBER GOING TO MY EMPLOYER.

I SAID WHAT IS THE LEAVE POLICY?

SAID JUST LEAVE.

SAID JUST LEAVE.

>> HELLO.

I AM CARI STEIN SITTING IN FOR BONNIE ERB.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY".

THIS WEEK, WE CONTINUE OUR WOMAN THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES WITH MY INTERVIEW WITH CAROLYN MALONEY, REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW YORK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

WE FIRST WENT TO START WITH THE FACT THAT YOU ARE DOING A NUMBER OF REPORTS.

YOU HAVE BEEN RELEASING REPORTS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.

TELL US ABOUT THEM.

>> THAT IS A PRIORITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR GUN SAFETY.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYONE'S GUNS AWAY FROM THEM, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO GUNS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE RELIABLE, BUT TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DANGEROUS.

WHAT IS SO SHOCKING IS THAT WE STAND ALONE IN THE WORLD IN THE AMOUNT OF GONE BY VIOLENCE.

WE ALSO ARE THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THE MOST GUNS.

I CAN SAY TO YOU THAT IF GUNS MADE US SAFER, WE WOULD BE THE SAFEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, BUT WE ARE BY FAR THE MOST DANGEROUS IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPHS, YOU WILL SEE THE UNITED STATES WAY OUT HERE WITH THE AMOUNT OF GUN VIOLENCE, AND THEN CANADA, YOU ARE 40 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF A GUN IN AMERICA THAN IN CANADA, THEN ENGLAND.

THERE WAS ONE GUN DEATH IN JAPAN LAST YEAR.

AREAS LIKE SYRIA WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF WARS GOING ON, WE EVEN HAVE MORE GUN VIOLENCE THAN THEY DO IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DIE.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DIE FROM SUICIDE IS ALSO ASTOUNDING.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ACCESS TO GUNS AND GUN SAFETY, AND AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE MORE ACCESS TO GUNS AND LAX LAWS, THERE IS MORE DEATH.

THERE WAS A TOTAL CORRELATION.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS ABOUT IT IT'S IT IS THE ONLY ISSUE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY THAT I'M AWARE OF WHERE WE LITERALLY PASSED LEGISLATION, WHICH I VOTED AGAINST, THAT SAID YOU CANNOT EVEN STUDY GUN SAFETY.

THAT WAS REVERSED.

SENATOR MARKEY AND I FOR YEARS HAD BUILT INTO REVERSE THAT LANGUAGE AND FUND IT.

IT HAS BEEN REVERSED AND WE HAVE PASSED A BILL OF $50 MILLION TO THE HOUSE TO FUND GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN SAFETY.

IF YOU LOOK AT CARS, WE STUDY IT ALL THE TIME, AND THAT'S WHY CARS GET SAFER AND SAFER AND SAFER, BECAUSE WE STUDY CAR SAFETY.

WHY NOT -- A GUN IS FAR MORE LETHAL.

WE HAVE TRIED SO MANY WAYS TO TRY TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S MINDS AND IS JUST COMMON SENSE THAT BACKGROUND CHECKS SAVE LIVES.

JUST SOMETHING LIKE A TRIGGER SAFETY OR LOCKING UP YOUR GUNS.

OR THE SAFE GUNS ONLY RESPONDERS TO THE OWNER'S HAND?

THOSE MEASURES SHOULD SAVE LIVES, BUT WE STAND ALONE IN THESE LAX LAWS.

IF YOU LOOKED AT -- IT WAS NEW ZEALAND WHERE THEY HAD A MASSIVE SLAUGHTER OF PEOPLE, 59 PEOPLE KILLED WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

THE PARLIAMENT CAME TOGETHER, THEY PASSED A SERIES OF GUN SAFETY LAWS.

ENGLAND HAD DONE THAT, AUSTRALIA, MOST EUROPEAN UNION, WHY NOT AMERICA?

WE ARE TRYING.

>> Cari: YES, YOU ARE TRYING.

YOU ARE COMING OUT WITH DIFFERENT REPORTS.

ONE WAS LIKE THE ECONOMIC COST OF GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC COST OF GUN VIOLENCE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE A -- BE SOMETHING YOU COULD USE TO SWAY PUBLIC OPINION AND GUESTS WAY OPINION ND CONGRESS BECAUSE PUBLIC OPINION IS FOR MORGAN SAFETY?

>> Rep. Maloney: WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN IF WE COULD PASS SOME OF THESE GUN SAFETY LAWS.

WORKING WITH THE GIFFORD INSTITUTE FOR GUN SAFETY, WE DID A REPORT THAT SHOWS IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 20 200 BILLION A YEAR SAVED MAINLY THROUGH LOST WORK.

USUALLY, THE PERSON WHO WAS KILLED HIS PRIME BREADWINNER OFTEN TIMES.

ALSO HOSPITAL COSTS, LEGAL SERVICE COSTS, JAILS, JUDICIARY, JUST A NUMBER OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT FOR MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS OF WHY WE NEED -- OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST LOSS IS LAWFUL OF LIFE.

THAT SHOULD BE NOVEMBER 1.

THAT ALONE IS PASSAGE OF -- >> Cari: IT WAS JUST NOT RESTRICTED TO MASS SHOOTINGS.

EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MASS SHOOTING, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT, BUT YOU LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS LIKE SUICIDES.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT TO THE STUDY AND TO YOUR GOAL OF GUN SAFETY?

>> Rep. Maloney: THEY WERE SUCH A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS BY SUICIDE.

THEY ARE ROUGHLY 129 PEOPLE A YEAR, A DAY -- I WOULD THINK A YEAR WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE BUT 129 AT DIE A DAY DUE TO SUICIDES PRIMARILY WITH GUNS.

OVER 47,000 A YEAR.

THERE ARE CERTAIN RISK FACTORS THAT WE SAW COME OUT, BEING A WHITE MALE, OLDER WHITE MALE LIVING IN A RURAL COUNTRY LIKE MONTANA OR COLORADO WHERE THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS LAX GUN LAWS, THERE IS MORE DEATHS BY GUNS.

>> Cari: WHAT IS THE RESPONSE THAT YOU HAVE HEAD TO THE REPORTS?

>> Rep. Maloney: WELL, WE DID IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BRADY AND THE GIFFORDS, MY FORMER COLLEAGUE.

JUST RAISING AWARENESS, JUST ANOTHER WAY TO TALK ABOUT A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

THE NEED TO GET MITCH McCONNELL TO MOVE SOME OF THESE BILLS THAT WE ARE SITTING OVER TO HIM THAT ARE ON HIS DESK, LIKE BACKGROUND CHECKS.

>> Cari: WHAT ARE THE BILLS?

WHAT BILLS ARE OVER THERE THAT HAVE TO DO WITH GUN SAFETY?

>> Rep. Maloney: I WOULD SAY THE $50 MILLION APPROPRIATION TO STUDY GUN SAFETY, I WOULD SAY THE BACKGROUND CHECKS IS THERE, ALSO THE SO-CALLED GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE THAT DOES AWAY WITH A WAITING PERIOD, THE CHARLESTON LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS QUICK AND WAY TO GET A GUN, TO BUY A GUN.

THOSE ARE THE THREE THERE.

BUT BACK IN 1994, PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED INTO LAW A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS, A BAN ON THE MASSACRE MAGAZINES, AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.

BACKGROUND CHECKS NEVER PASSED.

BUT THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND WE SAW GUN VIOLENCE FALL BECAUSE OF THESE BANS.

IT'S REALLY TO ME, THESE ASSAULT WEAPONS, THESE ARE WEAPONS OF WAR.

THEY ARE JUST USED TO KILL PEOPLE, TO KILL PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO WHY ARE YOU SELLING THESE TWO YOUNGSTERS THAT HAVE GONE INTO WALMART AND PLACES OF ASSEMBLY AND INTO SCHOOLS?

IT'S JUST TRAGIC.

AS A FORMER SCHOOLTEACHER AND AS A FORMER STUDENT, WE USED TO BE AFRAID BECAUSE OF THE NUCLEAR BOMB MAY COME OR WHATEVER.

THESE KIDS, THEY ARE TERRIFIED BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING THESE -- THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THESE PRACTICES FOR WHEN THE GUNMAN COMES.

WHEN CHILD SAID -- I TALKED TO HER ONE TIME AND SHE SAID -- HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

MY DAY WAS REALLY BAD.

WHY?

BECAUSE I HAD TO SIT NEAR THE DOOR WHERE THE GUNMAN MIGHT COME IN.

SO THEY ARE BEING RAISED IN THESE AREAS WITH THIS TOTAL FEAR OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

BUT IT'S A WELL-FOUNDED FEAR.

WE HAVE SONY MASS SHOOTINGS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

WE STAND ALONE IN THE NUMBER OF MASS SHOOTINGS.

IT'S SORT OF RELEASED REALLY FRUSTRATES ME IS THAT WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN AT ANSWER TO SUCH AS SECURITY CANCER.WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE KNOW WHAT STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT SAFER.

ONE BULLET OR ONE IDEA DOES NOT SOLVE EVERYTHING, BUT YOU COULD ADD LIABILITY INSURANCE TO GUNS SO YOU WOULD BE STUDYING WAYS TO MAKE THEM SAFER AS WE DO WITH CARS.

I MEAN, A GUN IS FAR MORE DEADLY THAN A CAR, YET WE HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR CARS BUT NOT FOR GUNS.

THERE SUCH A PUSHBACK FROM THE NRA ON ANY EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH STEPS FOR GUN SAFETY.

>> Cari: DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

>> Rep. Maloney: WE HAVE SOME SUPPORT FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS.

Ö Rep. Maloney: WE HAVE SOME OR THREE REPUBLICANS ON IT WAS A BILL THAT WAS SUCH COMMON SENSE THAT EVEN THE NRA HAS NOT COME OUT AGAINST IT, AND THAT WAS MAKING THESE SELLING OF GUNS, ILLEGAL GUNS A FELONY.

IT'S NOT EVEN A FELONY NOW.

WE WERE HAVING A HEARING IN THE COMMITTEE ON REFORM ABOUT VIOLENCE AT THE BORDER IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE TESTIFIED THAT THEY DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO TO ARREST GUN DEALERS BECAUSE THE LAWS ARE SO LAX.

IT'S LIKE A SLAP ON THE HAND.

BUT I WOULD THINK SELLING ILLEGAL GUNS AND TRADING IN THEM SHOULD BE A FELONY.

IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE.

AND WE HAD AN INCIDENT IN NEW YORK RIGHT AFTER THE MASSACRE OF THE CHILDREN IN CONNECTICUT.

AFTER EACH ONE OF THESE HUGE MASS INCIDENTS, YOU KNOW THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO ACT.

I JUST KNOW THAT IT'S SO OUTRAGEOUS, SO WRONG, SO CRUEL THAT WERE GOING TO ACT.

AND YET, WE JUST CANNOT PASS THESE LAWS.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE PASSED THREE LAWS.

THEY ARE SITTING ON MITCH McCONNELL'S DESK.

I HOPE YOU WILL ACT ON THEM.

>> Cari: MAYBE HE WILL HEAR YOU ON THAT ONE AND TAKE SOME ACTION.

YOU ARE A MAJOR WOMAN'S ADVOCATE.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN THROUGH YOUR HISTORY.

I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE SUBJECT FOR A MOMENT AND TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PAID LEAVE ACT.

I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DO NOT GET PAID LEAVE.

CAN YOU TALK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> Rep. Maloney: THIS IS SO INTERESTING.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT DO NOT GIVE PAID LEAVE FOR THE BIRTH OF A CHILD.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND GUESS WHAT THE OTHER ONE IS.

>> Cari: SWAZILAND.

>> THE GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THE.

>> Cari: I THOUGHT IT WAS SWAZILAND.

>> Rep. Maloney: THEY AT ONE POINT DID NOT BUT THEY HAVE SINCE PASSED THEPAID LEAVE.

SO THE BILL I PASS, WHEN HE FIRST CAME HERE , I WAS TMOTHER TWO YOUNG GIRLS .

I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE BORN, I WAS STUCK IN THE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE FIRED.

I REMEMBER GOING TO MY EMPLOYER AND THEY WERE SAYING -- WHAT IS THE LEAVE POLICY?

CAN THEY SAY YOU JUST LEAVE.

I SAID I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

THEY SAID, WELL, THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME.

YOU CAN HAVE DISABILITY.

I DON'T CONSIDER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD AT DISABILITY.

ON A PRINCIPAL, I DID NOT WANT TO APPLY FOR THAT.

BUT THERE WAS NO SUPPORT.

FOR A COUNTRY THAT TALKS ABOUT FAMILY VALUES ALL THE TIME, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY THERE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES LIKE FLEX TIME OR AFFORDABLE DAYCARE, THAT'S JUST NOT THERE.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO CONGRESS, ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS THAT WE VOTED ON, THE FIRST BILL WAS THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT.

THEN YOU COULD NOT BE FIRED FOR HAVING A CHILD.

I REMEMBER BEING SO HAPPY THIS LAW IS PASSED.

A MAN PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD ME HE GOT MORE COMPLIMENTS ON THAT LAW THAN ANY OTHER ONE.

BUT MOST COUNTRIES NOW PROVIDE PAID LEAVE.

IN FACT, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS AHEAD OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN AMERICA IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT'S 2 MILLION EMPLOYEES.

THEY DON'T HAVE IT.

THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH IT'S NEEDED.

I HAVE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES CALL ME AND WANT TO KNOW THE TIMING OF MY BILLS SO THEY CAN PLAN THEIR FAMILIES AROUND IT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE PAID LEAVE BECAUSE THEY NEED THE MONEY TO COVER THEM WHILE THEY ARE OUT.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT BILL.

I PASSED IT TWICE, BUT IT NEVER GOT THROUGH THE SENATE.

BUT THIS TIME, I ATTACHED IT TO A MUST PASS BILL, AND THAT'S THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.

IT'S NOW IN CONFERENCE, AND I HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL SIDE WITH THE HOUSE AND KEEP IT IN.

IT IS LONG PAST DUE.

USUALLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES OUT WITH MODEL PROGRAMS THAT THE COUNTRY SEES, BUT NOW MANY, MANY PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES PROVIDE PAID LEAVE FOR SICKNESS, FOR THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, FOR TAKING CARE OF AN ELDERLY PARENT.

BUT NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I HOPE THAT MY BILL WOULD BE ENACTED INTO LAW THIS YEAR.

>> Cari: WHAT WOULD LEAVE.

>> Rep. Maloney: SIX WEEKS, PAID LEAVE.

>> Cari: SIX WEEKS?

ä2 D LEAVE.

WEEKS.

>> Cari: HOW WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT GET PAID FOR?

THAT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION.

HOW WILL YOU PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THAT COULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Rep. Maloney: FOR THE BIRTH OF A CHILD THE GAL AND BUDGET CAME BACK THAT THERE WAS NO COST, BECAUSE YOU ARE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOUR OTHER EMPLOYEES WOULD COVER IT.

BUT THERE WOULD BE A COST AND THEY ARE PAID FOR BY CUTTING OTHER PROGRAMS AND PAYING FOR IT.

>> Cari: CARINGAL, LIKE, PROGRAMS LIKE -- >> Rep. Maloney: EVERY PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT, EVERY PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S HARD.

IT'S A HARD BALANCING ACT.

>> Cari: HAVE BEGUN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS?

>> Rep. Maloney: YES.

YES, WE HAVE.

NOT ENOUGH, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN SOME.

WE HAVE SOME STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> Cari: IS IT FRUSTRATING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY BILLS, SO MANY THINGS THAT THE HOUSE IS DOING AND THEY JUST END UP IN THE SENATE AND ARE GOING NOWHERE?

>> Rep. Maloney: IT'S TRUE.

WE HAVE PASSED ROUGHLY 230 BILLS THAT ARE JUST SITTING IN THE SENATE.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN GET THAT FRAGILE FLOWER CONSENSUS AND PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, BUT IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET IT THROUGH AND IT'S LIFE-CHANGING AND LIFESAVING.

ONE BILL THAT I PASS THIS YEAR AND THE HOUSE IS THE VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND FOR THE 9/11 RESPONDERS.

THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO WORK THERE.

IT WAS NOT.

THERE ARE MANY SICK AND DYING.

WE WILL SOON HAVE MORE PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPOSURE TO DEADLY TOXINS ON 9/11.

MANY OF THEM ARE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WORKED ON THE PILE AND WERE TOLD IT WAS SAFE WHEN IT WAS NOT.

A GRATEFUL NATION FOR SOMEONE WHO IS TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO SAVE YOU AND OUR PEOPLE, WE SHOULD HAVE THEIR BACKS TOO, AND WE FINALLY PASSED THE BILL.

THERE IS ANOTHER BILL THAT WE HAVE OVER 295 COSPONSORS FOR, A NEAT DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM IN THE MALL.

I WORKED ON THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

HAVING A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE FLOOR FOR PASSAGE.

WE HAVE STRONG SUPPORT IN THE SENATE WITH THE SENATORS FEINSTEIN AND COLLINS.

WHEN I STARTED IT, I WAS TRYING TO PASS EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

I FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS HARD TO EMPOWER WOMEN IF YOU DID NOT RECOGNIZE THEM.

THERE IS NO MUSEUM IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN.

I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND LONG PAST DUE.

WE OPENED UP LAST YEAR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM, AGAIN LONG PAST DUE, BUT IT'S A GREAT MUSEUM.

IT IS A MUSEUM THAT GOES AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH EXHIBITS WHICH I HOPE THE WOMEN'S MUSEUM WOULD AND IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN STUDY AND SEE THE WOMEN SCIENTISTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY HAVE MADE.

ONE EXAMPLE THAT I OFTEN GIVE IS THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS PAUL RIVERA, BUT CIVIL LUDINGTON'S FATHER, WHO WAS A GENERAL, SHE RODE LONGER THROUGH THE NIGHT, THROUGH ENEMY TERRITORY AND NO ONE IS ABOUT HER.

SO TOO MANY OF THESE STORIES OF WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS AND WE HAVE BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE MEN ARE JUST LIKE QUICKSAND.

IT'S JUST FORGOTTEN AND ROLLED OVER.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT STEM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, ECONOMIC -- AND THE ECONOMY AND TRYING TO GET MORE WOMEN INVOLVED.

WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO SHOW THE WOMEN THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE?

I JUST THINK IT'S A REALLY LONG OVERDUE -- >> Cari: WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU HAVING MORE WOMEN, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN, IN CONGRESS?

>> Rep. Maloney: IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

WE HAVE OVER 100.

I CAME THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN AND THERE WERE 48.

WHEN I CAME, THEY WERE SO FEW WOMEN IN CONGRESS THAT I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO REPRESENT LIKE A DISTRICT NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE AND WOMEN BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH WOMEN.

TOO OFTEN, YOU WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT JUST TO GET WOMEN ON PANELS ON WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE.

I REMEMBER REALLY CREATING A STIR WHEN THEY WERE HAVING A HEARING ON CONTRACEPTION AND WOMEN'S ACCESS TO ABORTION AND HEALTH SERVICES, REPRODUCTIVE PLANNING.

THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE WOMAN ON THE PANEL.

I SAID, WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?

THEY SAID NO WOMAN WAS QUALIFIED.

I SAID, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

ANY WOMAN WOULD BE BETTER QUALIFIED THAN THE MAN -- OR THE WITNESS THAT WE HAD SELECTED AS A DEMOCRAT WHICH IS OUR RIGHT TO SELECT OUR WITNESS.

IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLY HARD FIGHT FOR WOMEN.

BUT NOW WE HAVE SO MANY WOMEN HERE, AND WE HAVE THE FIRST FEMALE SPEAKER IN HISTORY.

SHE IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

IT'S JUST A CHANGED ATMOSPHERE.

I WENT TO SEE A PLAY THAT JUST CAME OUT ON BELL ABSENT.

SHE WAS A MENTOR TO ME.

MANY OF THE WORDS THAT THEY SPOKE WERE WORDS THAT I HEARD COME FROM HER.

BUT WHEN SHE SPOKE THEM, IT WAS LIKE REVOLUTIONARY DUMMY.

AND NOW IT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

I REMEMBER WHEN BELLA TOLD ME WEDNESDAY, SHE SAYS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A WOMAN PRESIDENT.

I CAN SEE HER, DRESSED ALL IN PURPLE.

SHE GOES INTO THIS BIG DESCRIPTION.

I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD HAPPEN COMING FROM WHERE I CAME TO MY BEING USUALLY THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM.

EVERY SINGLE JOB I'VE HAD, I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO HAVE IT BECAUSE THE DOORS WERE GETTING TO OPEN FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN.UT NOW IT'S LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW.

WE DID NOT FIGHT SO HARD TO BEAT THE WALLS TO LITTLE LITTLE FRESH AIR IN.

IT'S LIKE A STORM COMING THROUGH.

AND THEY ARE INCREDIBLY TALENTED, THEY HAVE ALREADY MANY HISTORIC CAREERS, A LOT OF LEADERS IN THE MILITARY HAVE COME TO CONGRESS AND FROM BUSINESS AND TEACHING AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND IT'S SO EXCITING TO SEE SO MANY WOMEN GET ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

AND I THINK THAT THEIR PRESENCE IS MAKING A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE> Cari: AND THEY ARE MORE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.

YOU KNOW, SADLY, WITH THE UNTIMELY PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS, YOU ARE NOW IN A DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP POSITION.

YOU ARE ACTUALLY AT LEAST TEMPORARILY LEADING THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR WOMEN?

>> Rep. Maloney: FIRST OF ALL, ELIJAH WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING.

WE CALL HIM THE NORTHSTAR MAN OF GREAT CONVICTION, A FRIEND, A MENTOR, AND WE ARE STILL GRIEVING OVER HIS LOSS.

BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO CONGRESS.

IN EACH ROOM, THEY HAVE THE PORTRAITS OF THE FORMER CHAIRS.

THERE WERE NO WOMEN, HARDLY ANY WOMEN.

IT WAS JUST ÃTHAT SHE COULD HEAR THE EARTH SHAKE WHEN NANCY PELOSI WAS ELECTED AS THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

SHE DID A LOT TO ADVANCE WOMEN, AND SHE HAS FOUGHT FOR WOMEN.

SHE APPOINTED ME TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN TO CHAIR THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE WHERE I AM DOING ALL THESE ECONOMIC REPORTS ON THE HIGH COST OF GUN VIOLENCE AND BUILDING A CASE FOR THAT AND MANY OTHER AREAS, TOO.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> Cari: OVERSIGHT IS A MAJOR COMMITTEE.

>> Rep. Maloney: IT'S A MAJOR COMMITTEE, AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONGRESS IS OVERSIGHT, AND IT WAS THE WORK COMING OUT OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON THE CENSUS WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

IT DISTRIBUTES OVER 700 BILLION A YEAR BASED ON CENSUS NUMBERS.

IT STALLED ALSO THE BASIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR PRESENTATION.

AND THE ADMINISTRATION JUST DECIDED THEY WANTED TO ADD THE CITIZENSHIP QUESTION THAT EVERY PRECISION PROFESSIONALS THAT WILL LEAD TO AN UNDER CAMP.

IT WAS THE WORK COMING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE AND OTHERS THAT SHOWED THAT IT WAS A TOTAL FABRICATION.

IT WAS BASED ON REALLY A PROPOSAL BY HOSLER TO REDUCE THE REPRESENTATION OF URBAN AREAS, OFTEN MINORITIES AND WOMEN, AND ELECT MORE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

WE WANTED THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT WAS A BIG WIN BASED REALLY ON OVERSIGHT AND RESEARCH.

>> Cari: SO DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THE COMMITTEE?

IS THERE -- >> Rep. Maloney: I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE COMMITTEE EVER SINCE I CAME TO CONGRESS.

WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, I LITERALLY FOUND IN THE CONTRACTS COMMITTEE THAT DID RESEARCH ON CONTRACTS, ONE-FOURTH OF THE BUDGET.

AND IT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF ABUSE AND CORRUPTION, ACTUALLY.

SO I HAVE WORKED ON THE COMMITTEE.E DO NOT ONLY THE IMPEACHMENT WHICH IS NOW THE CENTER STAGE, BUT IMMIGRATION, HEALTHCARE, WE DID A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON HIGH COST OF DRUGS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS BEING PROPOSED TO ADDRESS THAT.

SO WE ARE WORKING IN A LOT OF AREAS, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE OVERSIGHT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

IT LOOKS ROUTINELY AT ALL THE AGENCIES AND HOW THEY ARE OPERATING AND INVESTIGATES ANY ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION OR ALLEGED CORRUPTION AND WORKS HARD TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT HONEST FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> Cari: THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN MALONEY.

THIS HAS BEEN INTERESTING.

>> Rep. Maloney: THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR IMPORTANT SHOW.

>> Cari: THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY".

FOR PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.org/TOTHECONTRARY.

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